Wichita Falls, TX vs Brownsville, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Brownsville, TX has a modeled overall cost index 6.6% higher than Wichita Falls, TX.

Wichita Falls, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,120 / month
Brownsville, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,050 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Wichita Falls, TX and Brownsville, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $621/month in Brownsville, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,457 in Brownsville, TX

Regional cost estimates: Wichita Falls, TX uses Fort Worth, TX. Brownsville, TX uses Corpus Christi, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$621
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.5K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Wichita Falls, TX

Population:103K
Cost Index:
88.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$180K

Brownsville, TX

Population:190K
Cost Index:
94.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$184K

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Wichita Falls, TX

The Lone Star State

103K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 103K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Brownsville, TX

The Lone Star State

190K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 190K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wichita Falls, TX vs Brownsville, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 13.6%
Wichita Falls, TX
$2,106
Brownsville, TX
$2,393
Difference
$287
more
Other
↑ 12.4%
Wichita Falls, TX
$1,805
Brownsville, TX
$2,029
Difference
$224
more
Transportation
↑ 11.3%
Wichita Falls, TX
$1,344
Brownsville, TX
$1,497
Difference
$152
more
Healthcare
↓ 8.5%
Wichita Falls, TX
$657
Brownsville, TX
$602
Difference
$55.76
less
Groceries
↑ 4.4%
Wichita Falls, TX
$995
Brownsville, TX
$1,039
Difference
$43.46
more
All Utilities
↓ 5.0%
Wichita Falls, TX
$592
Brownsville, TX
$562
Difference
$29.80
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$820
To$780
↓ $40.00
1 Bed
From$910
To$870
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,120
To$1,050
↓ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,530
To$1,420
↓ $110
Wichita Falls, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $810–$1,020/mo

Brownsville, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$1,030/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Wichita Falls, TX
$8,121
Monthly in Brownsville, TX
$621
Difference

Home Values

Wichita Falls
Brownsville
$180K
Median Value
$184K
↓ -0.2%
YoY Change
↑ +2.1%
↑ +34.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +50.9%
$77K - $243K
Price Range
$169K - $228K

Homes in Brownsville are 2% more expensive than Wichita Falls

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Wichita Falls, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Brownsville, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Wichita Falls, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Brownsville, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Wichita Falls
Brownsville
54 Moderate
Air Quality
51 Moderate
35.5%
Good Air Days
48.6%
99 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
94 days
Heat Days >95°F
52 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
94 days
Heat Days >95°F
52 days

Before moving from Wichita Falls, TX to Brownsville, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Brownsville, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Wichita Falls, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Wichita Falls to Brownsville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Brownsville, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wichita Falls, TX vs Brownsville, TX

How do the cost estimates for Wichita Falls, TX and Brownsville, TX compare?

Brownsville, TX has a modeled overall cost index 6.6% higher than Wichita Falls, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Wichita Falls, TX, the model estimates $157,457 in Brownsville, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Wichita Falls, TX and Brownsville, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,120/month in Wichita Falls, TX and $1,050/month in Brownsville, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

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